A South Side nonprofit took home two Pulitzers for reporting that exposed police mishandling of missing-person cases and for an audio memoir on a 1990s hate crime.

A judge ordered clergy into the Broadview ICE center for Ash Wednesday, but a Chicago Reader report says the visit may have happened after detainees were moved. The discrepancy raises oversight questions.

A small, bipartisan fleet is following ICE operations in major U.S. cities, offering legal aid and recording enforcement for future oversight. Organizers say the footage could feed oversight or court actions.

Rob and Rose Bronstein pledged $15 million to Buckets Over Bullying to expand anti‑cyberbullying programs and a new grants stream for small nonprofits. The family said remaining funds will be paid through 2028.

Respond Now reopened a renovated Chicago Heights pantry on Feb. 9 as federal SNAP work requirements took effect Feb. 1, raising worries about rising need in the south suburbs.

Airbnb says South Side hosts earned about $15.1 million in 2025 as the Obama Presidential Center prepares to open in June. The company and the foundation are offering workshops to help residents capture visitor dollars.

Ofelia Torres, 16, has died after a rare cancer. Her family’s legal fight over her father’s ICE detention had made their struggle a local cause.

Northwestern reached a $4 million settlement for students affected by the 2020 shift to online classes; payouts and deadlines are now posted.

The Matrix Club on Route 59 closed after an eviction, forcing Naperville schools and nonprofits to rebook proms, weddings and fundraisers while owner and landlord dispute unpaid bills.

A New America analysis puts DePaul and Loyola on a list of colleges where parents — often low-income — borrow tens of thousands in Parent PLUS loans to cover tuition gaps.

A Portage Park parent says a third‑grade Black History lesson used tape and role‑play to simulate slavery; CPS says it is reviewing the lesson and prioritizing student well‑being.

A University of Houston survey finds 78% of Houstonians worry wages lag behind living costs, even though Houston's prices are lower than Chicago's.

Lanterns and lion dances lit up Wentworth and Clark as Chinatown opened Lunar New Year festivities while leaders urged unity amid heightened federal immigration enforcement. The neighborhood is planning a march on March 1.